New Williston high school, fire station take shape

The growing western North Dakota oil patch hub of Williston is planning a second fire station and a new high school, and doubling the size of its wastewater treatment plant.

Associated Press

The growing western North Dakota oil patch hub of Williston is planning a second fire station and a new high school, and doubling the size of its wastewater treatment plant.

The city's annexation of more land and the growing number of residents has prompted the need for a second station, Fire Chief Jason Catrambone said. Williston's population has doubled in size since 2010, to an estimated 30,000 people.

"A new substation will spread out our resources to respond quicker to all parts of the city," Catrambone said.

Catrambone this week received city approval to seek proposals from architectural and engineering companies to begin design work on the $5.5 million project, the Williston Herald reported. He estimates that a second station can be built within two years.

Meanwhile, the City Commission this week approved the annexation of 35 acres of land for the new high school. Voters in June approved a $34 million bond issue to help fund the $57 million facility. The district's enrollment has increased about 40 percent over the past five years, to about 3,200 students.

The new school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016, with the district using portable classrooms until then to handle the growing student body.

Resident Orville Erickson donated the land for the school.

"We could not have done this without Orville's donation," Superintendent Viola LaFontaine said.

A $105 million expansion of the city's wastewater treatment plant will be underway by the end of the month. Public Works Director Dave Tuan tells KXMC-TV that the plant currently can serve about 30,000 people, and the project will double that capacity when it's completed in three years.

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